Startups in Stilettos

Resources:  Ready to get more clients? Try Salesy free for 14 days and use code E100 for $100 off your first year.   “There is never going to be a shortage of ways for you to make money. So it is critical that you choose the ways that match your life and what you want out of your business.” On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman sits down with Andrea Mac, founder o...

“And I remember I was like ‘If I just work hard enough, if I work like 20 hours a day like maybe that will make a difference’ and I had to unlearn that.” On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, host Carlyn Bushman sits down with Jennifer Tsay, founder and CEO of Shoot, a photography company operating in more than 60 cities with nearly 2,800 five-star reviews. With a unique business model that of...

“Ethical Persuasion is when you truly believe what you are trying to bring into that other person's life is going to elevate them. If that isn't there then why are you influencing in the first place?” What does it take to influence others, build trust, and become a more effective leader? On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Lara Bruner...

“I hate the phrase “Its not personal, it's just business ", not for an entrepreneur. Our business is our baby. It's another piece of us. It is personal.” On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read and Carlyn Bushman sit down with Elizabeth Watson, founder of Sovereign Success Enterprises, to unpack the concept of Energetic ROI and why so many female founders struggle with burnout...

“If you deleted your logo, your fonts, you colors tomorrow would anyone still be able to explain what you do and why you do it and if not you don't have a brand yet. You have a look.” On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Emily Dean, founder of Bolt & Bloom, to talk about the evolution of a brand, the transition from corporate marketing to en...

“So the more dialed in to your story, the easier it is gonna be to find your people.” On this episode of Startups and Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Katie Miller, founder of Portia and Cleo, a marketing studio specializing in women-led and community-based businesses. Katie shares how her background in theater, storytelling, real estate, motherhood, and community adv...

“Cause anyone can speak and I think everyone should speak. You know go out there and find opportunities” On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Marta Spirk, professional singer turned TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and strategic speaking advisor for women entrepreneurs. Marta shares how her lifelong experience on stage—from singing and inte...

“It was a gamechanger for me. It really opened the doors for what was coming next, and next was just my ambition to go on my own and build my own brand.” On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with luxury real estate entrepreneur Natalie Sterling to explore her inspiring journey from building engineering to becoming a rising force in South Florida’...

“It became both important and a point of pride for me to then be able and do it in the other direction once I really did feel like I had the expertise.” On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with Jaclyn Ionin, trademark and business attorney and founder of Ionin Law, for an essential conversation about protecting the brands we work so hard to build. Jaclyn shares h...

Resources: If you're interested in attending the Renaissance Women’s Summit use code "Entreprenista" at checkout for 25% off a ticket. The Renaissance Podcast  “We have to be building towards creating profitability in the business. Not just revenue, but profit, and really understanding what that is and how to get there.” On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapa...

“I want to teach women to read an ingredient list and actually simply understand, not every ingredient, but what they need to be looking for.” On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with Danielle Ruess, founder of Ionian Skincare, to discuss how a personal skincare crisis led her from a successful corporate marketing career to building a science-backed skincare bran...

“Business spend a lot of money and a lot of time on marketing and sales, but once the client actually signs the contract its kind of like “okay we got them in the door, now what?” In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with Erica Wood, founder of Client Journey Advisors, to explore why so many service-based businesses focus on winning new clients while overlooking t...

Resources:  The Most Expensive Line Item in Your Business Isn’t on Your P&L “So that's what gets me up in the morning. I love working with people and seeing them transform.” In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, host Carlyn Bushman sits down with Joy Errico, founder of Maven Row Communications and former Fortune 200 communications executive, to discuss the leap from corporate leadership t...

“Every person regardless of their role operates as an individual leader. And when you eventually get to leadership, what do you want people to know you for?” In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman sits down with Lori Lalonde, founder of Her Executive Ascent and former Microsoft executive, to discuss her journey from nearly 30 years in corporate leadership to building a business d...

“If you don't open up and share your story, you're never going to find the people who are meant to find you and that you're meant to find.” In this special live episode of Startups in Stilettos, host Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with three accomplished Entreprenista members—Emily, founder of Electric Collab; LinkedIn strategist Natasha Walstra; and trademark attorney Lauren—to explore how collabora...

Resources: Meta Ads Readiness Checklist “So I just decided to participate way more in Entreprenista and that changed my damn life last year and like 70% of my leads last year were from women that I met that wanted to talk about ads.” In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Meta ads strategist and revenue growth expert Jess Gleim to unpack...

Resources:  Bobo Wears a Bowtie “So all of these pieces started to come together to become this personal brand. The voice of the families. That's who I am.” What does it take to pivot careers, build a million-dollar business, and impact the lives of more than 150,000 families? In this inspiring episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Luba Pa...

“Understanding your audience and creating something specifically for them is the best approach you could take with any of this.” What does it really take to launch a podcast that drives business growth? This week on Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read and Carlyn Bushman sit down with Hayleigh Hayhurst, founder of Espresso Podcast Production, to uncover the strategy behind successful podcasts...

“An inspirational vision is not a pipedream. Give it a chance to mature and reveal its true potential” In this inspiring episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Dr. Dominique Carson—licensed massage practitioner, journalist, author, and founder of the mobile massage business Mani Benedette. Dr. Dominique shares her remarkable journey from a young...

Resources mentioned: Entreprenistas get 35% off Dubsado with code ENTREPRENISTA35 at dubsado.com/entreprenista. “Once you launch into entrepreneurship and start providing a service, you need to figure out how you are bringing your money in and how you are presenting yourself with your clients from proposals to everything else.” In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ing...

“We've got to find a way to keep the good people contributing their talents in the workforce.” In this thought-provoking episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Annie Graziani, founder of Sovera Strategy Company, doctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, executive coach, and author of the upcoming book Leave Life and Live. Annie shar...

“.And what I started to hear were all these incredible founders, women who had all the stories…And I realized there's a thing here.” Money is one of the most important topics in business and one of the least talked about. In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Ruchi Pinniger, founder and CEO of Watch Her Prosper, to unpack the powerful c...

“...I had all this knowledge and way of putting design into work because I had learned from my partners to say, yes, it's a creative entity, but you have to have a process to it…” In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, host Carlyn Bushman sits down with product development expert Suzy Haber Wakefield, founder of Suzy Wakefield Designs, to unpack what it really takes to build a successful produ...

When you are in alignment with what you're being called to do, which is quite different than just like Googling your way to purpose, you know, like I don't believe that can happen. You have to go within. Then the community is actually pulling you.” In this inspiring live episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read and Carlyn Bushman sit down with Sheri Crawley, founder and CEO of Pretty B...

“So that's the premise of what we do. We show up when you don't know what to say, when it's hard for you to remember those days, but you don't want to leave someone alone.” In this heartfelt episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with Kelly Edmondson, founder of Timely Presence, a year-long grief support service created from unimaginable loss and deep compassion. After the...